Grinding apparatus

Claim 1

In an apparatus for grinding two flats of substantially the same dimensions in two portions of a conical tip of a stylus element comprising: (a) means for holding the element, (b) a rotatably mounted abrasive surface for grinding the tip portion, (c) means for rotating the element between the two tip portions wherein the point of the tip does not disturb or penetrate the abrasive surface during rotation of the element, and (d) means for contacting the respective tip portions with the abrasive surface so that a constant force is applied to the tip portion being ground, wherein the tip point does not penetrate or disturb the abrasive surface and wherein the tip remains in contact with the abrasive surface during rotation of the element; wherein the element holding means is a stylus element holding assembly comprising a holding member to which the stylus element is attached at one end, and a shaft in which the holding member is rotatably mounted; wherein the element rotating means includes an index wheel drivingly connected to the stylus element holding assembly; and wherein the stylus element holding assembly includes a flipping lever and the index wheel is drivingly connected to the flipping lever; wherein the improvement comprises a fork assembly having flexible fork members attached to the index wheel wherein the fork assembly is drivingly connected to the flipping lever, whereby substantially the same tip portions are in contact with the abrasive surface after each alternate rotation.